Payare and Kozhukhin: Absolute Intensity

The Moldau! —In Czech, “Vltava”—depicts the most powerful river of Central Europe, a never-ending source of inspiration for Smetana. Its famous melody wonderfully evokes the composer’s native land. Combined with the multifaceted pianistic genius of Rachmaninoff in his sublime Second Concerto, and the bold orchestral writing of Bartók, the mysterious sumptuousness and fiery passion of three great masters is explored by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Rafael Payare, and pianist Denis Kozhukhin who makes his Quebec debut.